Ministry of Finance Minutes of Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC) Meeting June 20, 2017

Transcription

1 Ministry of Finance Minutes of Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC) Meeting June 20, 2017 For the Union Dave Bissoon (Co-Chair) Tracey Cribbs (Vice-Co-Chair) Kelly Reddy (Health and Safety Member) Tara O'Grady (member) Cindy Forsyth (OPSEU representative) For the Ministry Linda Gibney (Co-Chair)** Amanda Suzuki (member) Denise Paulin (member) Julie Legault (SBU - member) Diana Skinner (SBU - member) Justin O'Gorman (CER - resource) Sarah Teschner (SBU - note-taker) Regrets: Guests: N/A (**indicates meeting chair) Date Tabled Referred To Action Minutes of the Previous Meeting Standing Minutes of the meeting held on March 14, 2017 were signed following the meeting and have subsequently been posted on the Human Resources intranet site and OPSEU website. Follow-up from previous business: 1. Notifications Standing Eight (8) Ministry Disclosures have taken place since the last meeting of March 14, Health and Safety: Status of Divisional Workplace Violence Risk Assessments (WVRA's) Standing WVRA reports were shared with MERC on Management Management to follow December 2, 2016; Joint Health and Safety up and continue to Committee (JHSC) co-chairs were directed to provide semi-annually. share with their respective JHSC /1 2/06 MERC inquired as to the process for getting information and sharing the WVRASIP. Page 1 of 8

2 2017/03/14 MERC would like to thank Darlene Kulis for attending the MERC meeting and clarifying the WVRASIP process. The Centre for Employee Health Safety and Wellness provides ministries with workplace violence risk assessments toolkits (toolkits) (link) to complete in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Toolkits need to be completed when there has been an incident and/or change in the organization. The ministry goes beyond the requirements by completing the toolkits annually as part of the security threat risk assessment process. Security Services and Emergency Management (SSEM) helps managers to complete and SSEM also checks in quarterly on the status of recommendations. 2017/06/20 The Report will be shared as soon as it is available. 3. Matrix Report Standing The report was shared with the MERC Co- Management Management to Chair. The report will be shared with JHSC continue to provide on Co-Chairs and Health and Safety a yearly basis. Representatives. This was the Injury & Illness Report for the Ministry of Finance. Another report is not expected until spring/summer Appendix 15 - Fixed Term Report Standing A copy of the report was provided to the Management Management to Union in advance of the meeting (on May 16, continue to provide 2017). quarterly, in advance of MERC meetings. 2017/06/20 Union requested information on the fixed term Union Union will raise this report: position vacant, temporary vs. issue with CERC. permanent positions, and whether there was a competition. Management has advised that it provides the information according to Appendix 15 and is not required to provide the additional information under the Collective Aqreement. Page 2 of 8

3 5. New and Revised Job Descriptions - Article 1.4 Standing Of the nine (9) position descriptions that were Management Management to disclosed since March 14, 2017 to OPSEU continue to provide with a copy to the Union MERC Co-Chair, monthly, in advance of seven (7) were outside the OPSEU MERC meetings bargaining unit. Standing 6. Statistics for Attendance Support Management Program (ASMP) - Quarterly Report The reports for Q3 and Q4, created based on Management Management will information from the Centre for Employee continue to share the Health, Safety and Wellness (CEHSW) was Ministry of Finance shared with MERC co-chairs on April 26, information as it receives it. 7. Questions regarding FSCO 201 6/03/08 The union has reviewed the preliminary position paper on the Review of the Mandate of FSCO, Financial Services Tribunal, and the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario and has asked management if any decisions have been made. Management has advised they are not aware of any decisions /06/14 Management has advised that the independent expert advisory panel tasked by the government to review FSCO's mandate has completed its report. The government is reviewing. 2016/09/13 The independent expert advisory panel's final report was released publicly on June 20, Over the last month, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Superintendent of Financial Services have been meeting with FSCO employees to discuss the mandate review. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been posted on FSCO's intranet site and are updated periodically to address any subsequent questions or concerns raised by employees, as necessary. There are currently no known impacts to OPSEU-represented employees as a result of this final report /12/06 The Province is committed to modernizing how financial services and pensions are regulated in Ontario. In support of a new Page 3 of 8

4 vision, the Minister of Finance has introduced legislation which if passed, would establish the initial parameters of a new regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). The legislation entitled, Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act (Budget Measures), 2016 is currently at Second Reading in the Legislature. The Ministry has in turn created a new Financial Services Regulation Modernization Secretariat to manage the implementation of this complex and important initiative. Given the status of the legislation, impacts to OPSEU represented employees at FSCO are unknown at this time. The Ministry will continue to apprise OPSEU of developments as they become known. 2017/03/14 Impacts to OPSEU represented employees at FSCO are unknown at this time. The Ministry will continue to apprise OPSEU of developments as they become known. The Union has advised that it is fully prepared to engage in discussions with the Employer. 2017/06/20 Following union's request to re-schedule MERC from June 19 to June 20, there was a scheduling conflict for guests. The union has asked to defer the FSRA item. 2016/03/08 8. Disclosure regarding pilot crossdesignation of inspections staff and municipal tobacco officers The union would like more information about the pilot project. The MERC team has agreed to ask a manager from Inspections to attend the next MERC meeting to explain the pilot project to the full team. 2016/06/14 MERC would like to thank Jill Eymann for attending this meeting. The cross designation pilot commenced on April 1, 2016 for a period of one year (March 31, 2017). The pilot will be evaluated throughout the year on a monthly basis. Management confirmed that there's no intention for municipalities to take over the work performed by the provincial inspectors. Management Review again in MERC Meeting) Page 4 of 8

5 2016/12/06 MERC would like to thank Jill Eymann for attending this meeting to provide an update on the cross-designation pilot. 2017/06/20 Following union's request to re-schedule Management Review again in MERC from June 19 to June 20, there was a September 2017 scheduling conflict for guest. Union has MERC meeting. asked to defer the Cross Designation Pilot item. 2016/03/08 9. Bill 173 Benefits Transformation Initiative The union has reviewed Bill 173 and asked management if any decisions have been made. Management has advised they are not aware of any decisions at this time. 2016/06/14 Management advised that no decisions have been made at this time. Management remains committed to sharing information with OPSEU as soon as possible, ensuring all collective agreement and disclosure obligations are met. 2016/09/13 Management has no updates. 2016/1 2/06 Management has no updates /03/14 MERC would like to thank Mashood Mirza and Jawar Kassam for attending the MERC meeting to provide an update on the Bill 173 Benefits Transformation Initiative. 2017/06/20 Management has no updates at this time. Management Review again in This item is being discussed at CERC on June 30, MERC Meeting) 2016/06/ Establishing LERCs MERC is pleased to announce that Local 599 (5 Park Home Ave. North York) and Local 340 (33 King St W Oshawa) have established LERCs. A request has also been received to establish a LERC in Local 201 (119 King St W Hamilton). MERC will continue to support the establishment of LERCs /09/13 Local 201 LERC has now been established and Local 599 (North York) has also been established. Page 5 of 8

6 2016/12/06 MERC is pleased to announce that FSCO has joined the Local 599 LERC. The Union MERC will be reaching out to all locals to encourage them to establish LERCs. 2017/03/14 No new LERCs have been established since the last MERC meeting on December 6, The following are LERCs currently established in MOF: Local 599 (5 Park Home Ave. North York) - includes FSCO Local 340 (33 King St W Oshawa) Local 201 (119 King St W Hamilton) Union outreach to Ministry of Finance locals continues. 2017/06/20 Union outreach to Ministry of Finance locals Management Management to follow continues. Union has requested a list of up. locations where MOF OPSEU represented staff are located. 2016/06/ MERC Terms of Reference The MERC Terms of Reference were last signed in December The MERC team will review the terms of reference and propose to table any changes/adjustments at the next meeting. 2016/09/13 MERC members have reviewed and discussed proposed changes to the Terms of Reference. Members to meet in two weeks' time for further discussion. 2016/12/06 Union to review last draft provided by management. 2017/03/14 Union to review. 2017/06/20 Union has requested to defer this item. Union Review again in MERC Meeting) New business: 2017/06/20 1. Security Cameras in Ministry of Finance Remove from Agenda. workplaces The Union has asked whether there is a MOF policy regarding cameras in the Workplace. Page 6 of 8

7 An information note was provided to OPSEU in November 2014 providing details regarding the MOF Building Security Video Surveillance Policy, which became effective January 1, The intent of this policy is to govern video surveillance at Ministry owned and leased properties while balancing individual rights to privacy and the need to ensure the safety and security of OPS employees, clients, contractors, visitors and property. While video surveillance cameras are installed for safety and security reasons, MOFs video surveillance systems must also be designed to minimize privacy intrusion. Proper video surveillance, where deemed necessary, is an effective means of helping to keep OPS staff, clients, information and assets safe and secure, while minimizing any reduction of privacy inherent in collecting personal information. The policy is posted on the MOF Security Services and Emergency Management intranet site. The Union has inquired as to whether the surveillance systems may be used by management for the purpose of investigating possible workplace misconduct. Management has advised under the Application and Scope of the Policy (p.4) it could, where appropriate /06/20 2. Privacy Concerns Management Investigate and report back before the next OPSEU has inquired as to how MOF protects meeting. its employees' personal information. A concern has been raised following a CBC News story from June 2, 2017 regarding a privacy breach in the federal government (Public Services and Procurement Canada). 2017/06/20 3. Digital Government Review again in The Union has requested an update on MERC meeting). MOF's plans for Digital Government. Management has advised that there are currently no updates. Page 7 of 8

8 2017/06/20 4. Open Government Review again in The Union has requested an update on MERC meeting). MOF's plans for Open Government. Management has advised that there are currently no updates. Next Meeting The next meeting has been scheduled for September 20, 2017 from 9am-3:30pm. Location: 33 KinQ St. W. (Room 1 E), Oshawa Original signed by: ~~~~~n~sy oaii- [)ated: June 20, 2017 Page 8 of 8